Every college or university faces online-learning difficulties due to its various challenges. Teaching in a distance learning environment can be overwhelming, but it’s extremely rewarding for all parties involved when done correctly.
Since many universities and colleges pursue online teaching or have a hybrid system, Instructional Connections focuses on improving virtual learning with teaching assistants.
In this article, we’ll answer the top five questions about teaching assistants and explain how they benefit university programs.
What are Your Teaching Assistants’ Qualifications?
At a minimum, all Instructional Connections Teaching Assistants (TA) have a master’s degree, but many have doctoral degrees. Our TAs are familiar with university lectures in virtual environments and understand how to improve student learning by encouraging their independence.
Professors can expect diligence, professionalism, and extra support from our TA to carry out the lectures successfully despite all online challenges. In other words, the TAs assist in grading and potentially monitoring discussion threads.
How do you Choose Teaching Assistants?
We value knowledge, dedication, and respect for the educational system. We are dedicated to improving virtual courses and employ only quality matches that recognize and appreciate our profession. Therefore, we conduct a strict pre-employment process before we assign you a TA.
We review each applicant thoroughly, and if we consider them a good fit for our board, we invite the TA for a 4-6 hour-long screening process. During the screening, we assess their methodology, knowledge of online courses, and ways they could improve as a virtual assistant.
How Does the Academic Coaching Model Improve the Virtual Classroom?
One of the most common issues with virtual classrooms was passiveness due to isolation, resulting in low motivation among students. Many professors simply need to engage students and improve the atmosphere.
The Academic Coaching Model animates the class. Our TAs interact with students by monitoring discussion threads if requested. This helps them build an excellent foundation for independent learning.
How Does the Professor-Teaching Assistant Relationship Work?
The professor and TA have a straightforward relationship where the professor enlists their expectations of the approved and assigned Academic Coach. The professor has to arrange the objectives and roles of the month in advance, followed by the Teaching Assistant.
Can I Choose a Teaching Assistant?
Yes! The first stage of arranging an Instructional Connections TA is setting up a meeting. We must discuss your teaching program regardless if it’s a college, university, or course-specific type of teaching. You will have to explain your objectives, so we can match you with a fitting teaching assistant in the field. Once you choose one, we train our TAs to adjust to your program, plans for meeting the course objectives, and overall teaching methodology.
Hire a Virtual TA
Discuss your needs with Instructional Connections and see how our Virtual Teaching Assistants can enhance your distance learning environment!If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at any time. We’re here to help!
